3D inches towards a standard

It seems like everybody is trying to do their own thing when it comes to 3D video. Since there's no specific standard, different HDTV makers are all implementing 3D in slightly different ways. These differences might not seem apparent to most consumers, but they're still individual technical approaches which means you can't mix and match 3D glasses to fit whatever 3D-compatible HDTV you have. Fortunately, that might be changing soon.

The CEA is looking at the 3D@Home Consortium's developing 3D standard as a possible one-size-fits-all 3D tech template for most HDTVs. 3D@Home is a group consisting of several movie studios and electronics manufacturers, who are all working together to eventually produce a single standard for 3D technology in HDTVs. The consortium has already released several documents describing possible universal standards for 3D video, active shutter glasses, and passive lens glasses, and the CEA is considering them for integration into its own set of technical standards.

Panasonic previews its 3D technology

I just got back from Panasonic's corporate headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey, where the company was giving previews of its upcoming 3D technology. Yes, I know 3D video has been around for decades, and over the last few years it's seen a resurgence in movies, but Panasonic's demo distinguished itself by presenting a preview of an upcoming standard in 3D HD video. If it catches on, 3D video might see its own legitimate and consistent technology, standardized across many different consumer electronics and motion picture companies.

Panasonic is calling the system Full 3D HD, and it set up a home theater dedicated to showing it off, equipped with the company's 103-inch, 1080p plasma HDTV and a prototype 3D-capable Blu-ray Disc player. The system uses active shutter glasses, 3D glasses with electronics that make the lenses shutter at extremely high speeds, to separate 120 frames of alternating video into 60 frames for each eye to produce the 3D effect. Each frame is full 1080p resolution, essentially pushing twice as much video through the screen as regular, 2D 1080p video.

NEC debuts new 2K 3-D projector for Pixar's "Up"

If you're in the NYC area this weekend, it might be worth the trip over to the Ziegfeld Theatre to see the new Pixar film on NEC's latest and greatest projector, the NC2500S-A. It uses a 1.2" DMD from Texas Instruments as well triple flash for super-clear and smooth images. It also boasts a 33% brightness increase over the previous model, which is a big jump. They also claim it can handle bigger screens and more advanced 3-D features, so this might make IMAX light look even less worth the extra bucks. They're expecting to roll out more of the projectors over the course of this year, but only to bigger theaters that can handle (and afford) these monsters.

"Coraline," yes. 3-D, no.

I haven't had much use for 3-D. But with the advent of RealD — and since I am, after all, the entertainment editor of this magazine — I figured it was high time for me to check out the latest state of the 3-D art. And what better film to do it with than Henry Selick's latest creation in stop-motion animation?

So I went to my local googolplex, donned a pair of 3-D glasses, and waited to be dazzled. And waited. And waited. But all I got was . . . a headache.

Well, no, not a super-huge migraine. But having to wear the special glasses over my regular glasses, and feeling oddly compelled to watch the movie more intensely because, after all, it was in three dimensions, I did end up feeling some eye strain and some temple strain by the end.

And I certainly wasn't dazzled by the 3-D effects. They were basically fine, and occasionally they were even remarkable. But were they necessary? No. After all, why should we be focusing on 3-D effects when we should really be focusing on the movie?

Coraline may not be the masterpiece that Selick made with The Nightmare Before Christmas (in 2-D, thank you), but it's a wondrous story nevertheless, with brilliant art direction. I repeat: Story. Art Direction. There's simply no need to add 3-D to those ingredients.

Maybe James Cameron's Avatar will blow me away. And hey, I do hope that all of you taking your kids tonight to see Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience will have a blast. But does anyone really think that 3-D itself will be the new savior of the theatrical movie industry? I just don't see it. "Be careful what you wish for," indeed.

— Ken Richardson

4K, 3-D, 2 companies, 1 cinema experience

3-D has been making a pretty big resurgence lately, especially in movie theaters. From My Bloody Valentine to Coraline, moviegoers have been lining up to put on some silly-looking glasses and watch the special effects jump out at them.

While it's still making inroads for moviegoers, 4K resolution seems to be the display tech of the future. At around 4096 x 2048, 4K digital cinema has four times the resolution of 1080p high-def video. Many filmmakers are filming their movies in 4K, and 4K digital projectors are (very) slowly creeping into theaters across the country.

Two-character number/letter combinations never before seemed to destined to combine forces, though not perhaps in the way you might think.

Panasonic Opens 3D Authoring Lab

While other companies are floundering around - to 3D, or not to 3D - Panasonic is making a commitment to bring 3D Full HD to home Blu-ray by the year 2010. The new 3D authoring facility is in the Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory located in California. 

Panasonic is working with movie studios to push "3D FHD" as the new 3D standard. Hopefully, we won't have a standard war. If this up and coming technology stands a chance for mainstream acceptance, one standard is needed. --Leslie Shapiro

HDTV Org

SoBe in 3D

The 2009 Super Bowl is going to be a  3D blitz, with commercials and trailers slated to air in 3D. One of the most anticipated is the SoBe Lizards take on "Swan Lake."  The video, in 2D can be seen here.

But, perhaps more interesting is the behind-the-scenes "making of" video. Check it out, then head to your local Pepsi dealer for your free 3D glasses. If nothing else, think of how goofy all your friends are gonna look wearing them at your Super Bowl party. --Leslie Shapiro

My Bloody Valentine 3D Opens Friday

Exciting times for the 3D world. A few sporting events have been making the headlines, but Hollywood is getting into the game.

My Bloody Valentine 3D opens in theaters tomorrow - in 2D and 3D. Nothing like a good horror flick with bloody gore flying off the screen at you to make you appreciate 3D. Designed with a throw-back feel to the classic horror flicks, this might mark the return of all the classic 3D horror favorites.

Now, this is likely a movie that needs the 3D effect to make it successful. Will you be going to check it out, or wait for a 3D DVD to come out. --Leslie Shapiro

HD Maverick Mark Cuban Invests in 3D Theaters

Come on, we couldn't let 2008 end without one more use of the word "maverick." Dallas Mavericks owner and HD maverick Mark Cuban has bought a large stake in the Carmike Cinema chain, and not because he loves popcorn.

In an email to the Alley Insider, Cuban said, ""What I can say is that I think Out of Home entertainment is becoming about far more than movies. HDNet was the first to do a live 3D broadcast to a theater, and we will continuing trying to expand that business, along with 2D out of home. Bits are bits, and just like you can make them smaller, you can make them a lot bigger and more interesting."

Now, some sporting events are already in 3D in theaters, such as . . .

Sensio Live 3D Adds 50 Theaters to the Party

The 3D field is getting busy. Sensio, who is already working in the consumer market with JVC, is bringing live 3D broadcasts to an additional 50 cinemas throughout the US.  The first 50 licenses were sold in July.

Sensio's system is used by Cinedigm Digital Cinema to bring the BCS National Championship game to theaters next week - in glorious 3D, of course.

See what the CEO had to say about this expansion . . .